Tailings management north of parallel 60

Tailings management facilities are crucial components of most mining operations. These projects are often complex and require careful consideration to dispose of waste while protecting the natural environment. This is even more true in the Great Canadian North, or north of parallel 60, where harsh climates and challenging geographic conditions make tailings management even more difficult.

But responsible tailings management north of 60 involves more than just technical components. We must also consider First Nations perspectives, the long history of legacy environmental issues, historical practices, the impacts of climate change, local and geopolitical conditions, and more. 

Diego Penate and Steve Bundrock write in Canadian Mining Journal about the challenges engineers face when designing responsible tailings facilities in the Great Canadian North.